SLAUGHTER OF CALVES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20789, 7 August 1929, Page 7

SLAUGHTER OF CALVES

SERIOUS'EFFECT ON TRADE. ~■ " f ■ GOVERNMENT URGED TO TAKE ' ACTION. v (Special to Daily Times.) AUCKLAND, August 6. Believing that the heavy slaughter of calves whifch is proceeding in the country districts will have a prejudicial effect, the Auckland Master Butchers’ Association has v . taken the matter up with the Minis* ter of Agriculture (Mr G. W. Forbes). The association points out that the business was undertaken by freezing works in Waikato and elsewhere, and was intended at first to deal only with calves of the dairy strain suitable for beef. The business has now developed to such an extent that calves 0f..-a good beef Strain are being slaughtered in great numbers at one or two days old. The members of the Auckland Master Butchers’ Association are not in a position to judge the effect the wholesale slaughter will have on the Dominion as a whole, hut they arc convinced that if this slaughter of young ralves continues there will be pan acute shortage of store cattle suitable for grazing and conversion into beef for t local consumption, with a consequent serious ill-effect upon trade and upon consumers, in the form of high prices. The Auckland Master Butchers' Association recognises the great difficul-’ ties in the way of dealing with such a situation through Government action, but suggests that the Agricultural Department might take action in advising and distributing information to those concerned in regard to the very serious effects upon the stock business as the result of the wholesale slaughter of young calves.